RSF demands immediate release of Pakistani journalist Ahmad Noorani’s abducted brothers
Police deny involvement as brothers ‘abducted’ after report against Army Chief
Noorani has faced repeated legal actions over his journalism
Paris- based press freedom organisation, Reporters without borders (RSF) has demanded the immediate release of the two brothers of Pakistani journalist Ahmad Noorani, who were forcibly taken from their home in Islamabad on March 19.
Noorani has faced repeated legal actions over his journalism
Days after the abduction of Pakistani journalist Ahmad Noorani’s two brothers from their home in Islamabad on March 19, Reporters Sans Frontier (RSF) a leading global press freedom and national civil society organisations has demanded their immediate release and condemned the incident as a grave attack on press freedom and called for urgent action.
In a press statement, RSF says that the abduction occurred shortly after Noorani published an investigative report on alleged nepotism by Pakistan’s army chief, General Asim Munir.
It adds that late in night nearly 20 armed men identifying themselves as police raided the family home of Noorani, who resides in the United States. Some were in civilian clothes, while others wore uniforms resembling army commandos.
The statement adds that the abductors confiscated phones, deleted videos recorded by the family, and took the journalist’s two brothers both engineers to an unknown location. Their whereabouts remain unknown.
RSF sys that Noorani had recently published a report on his investigative website, Fact Focus, alleging that General Munir appointed unqualified relatives to key government positions.
It adds that the journalist’s sister, present at the time of the abduction, reported that the perpetrators told the family they “should know why this was happening.”
According to statement local police have denied involvement. The family’s lawyer, Imaan Mazari, stated that the method of abduction suggests intelligence agencies’ involvement. Noorani also accused intelligence agents of orchestrating the abduction.
It adds that on March 19, Noorani’s mother filed a habeas corpus petition with the Islamabad High Court seeking her sons’ release. The petition was delayed by three days, and no First Information Report (FIR) has been lodged.
According to RSF the hearing, initially scheduled for March 21, was postponed to March 24, pending a written response from the police.
Célia Mercier
It adds that Noorani has faced repeated legal actions over his journalism. On March 13, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) initiated proceedings against him under Pakistan’s Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) for allegedly spreading “false” and “misleading” information regarding a train attack in Balochistan .
It adds that Noorani website, Fact Focus, which investigates corruption among military and political leaders, has also been blocked by Pakistani authorities.
The statement adds that the RSF has called Noorani’s brothers’ disappearance an act of retaliation and urged Pakistani authorities to disclose their whereabouts, ensure their release, and hold those responsible accountable.
“The forced disappearance of Ahmad Noorani’s brothers, which appears to be a clear reprisal to intimidate and silence the journalist, is intolerable. Unfortunately, it is just the latest example of a broader pattern of repression against critical voices in Pakistan. RSF calls on the authorities to shed light on the fate and whereabouts of the journalist’s two brothers, ensure their immediate release and bring those responsible for this outrageous act to justice,” says Célia Mercier Head of the RSF South Asia Desk.
